After they finished eating, Mira helped Jana gather the plates from the dining table. Both of them carried the dishes into the kitchen, their voices low as they spoke softly to each other. Mr. Ashford stretched, rubbing his tired eyes, and announced that he was going to rest inside his room for the night.
The dining hall grew quiet.
Lin lowered his gaze to the table, his fingers fidgeting nervously against his lap. He could feel it the weight of Dimitri's stare pressing heavily on him, sharp and unrelenting. His heart thudded faster, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Come here."
The command fell from Dimitri's lips, low and deep.
Lin flinched. His body stiffened, but obediently, he stood up. His feet felt heavy as he walked across the space to where Dimitri sat. When he reached him, he dared to lift his eyes slightly, only to find Dimitri's cold, piercing gaze fixed on him.
"How old are you this year?" Dimitri asked, his chin resting lazily against his hand, his tone casual but edged with authority.
Lin swallowed, shifting uncomfortably. "Hmm… I-I'm seventeen," he replied, his voice small, betraying his nerves.
"When is your next birthday?" Dimitri's glance sharpened, like he was testing him, as if the answer mattered more than it should.
"I-It's in six months," Lin murmured. "I'll be eighteen then."
"I see," Dimitri said quietly, almost to himself, though his eyes lingered on Lin's trembling figure a moment longer before he leaned back slightly.
"Lin, come here!" Jana's voice carried from the kitchen.
Lin turned quickly, relieved for the distraction. "Big brother… e-excuse me," he stammered before scurrying away, his footsteps almost too fast as he escaped into the kitchen.
Dimitri remained still, his expression unreadable. He was about to rise and retreat to his room when his phone rang sharply. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen it was Cyrus. His jaw tightened as he answered.
"Dimitri," Cyrus's voice burst through, urgent and furious, "it's serious. The goods were stolen. Six of our men… killed."
Dimitri's eyes darkened, his tone dropping into a chilling coldness. "What did you just say?"
"Sean called me just now it seems they were waiting for this moment, Dimitri. They knew—" Before Cyrus could finish, gunfire erupted in the background, the sharp sound of bullets crackling through the receiver. Shouts, chaos then sudden silence. The line went dead.
Dimitri stared at the black screen of his phone for a long, heavy moment, his fingers curling around the device with controlled fury.
Without a word, he walked toward the kitchen. His eyes shifted briefly toward Mira. She caught the look instantly, her body stiffening before she forced a calm expression.
"Hm… Mom, I'll get going now," Mira said quickly, setting down the last dish towel.
"So soon?" Jana asked, surprised.
"Yeah, something came up." Mira forced a faint smile, then walked to Lin, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Bye, little baby."
Lin looked up at her with gloomy eyes. "Hm… bye, Sister."
Dimitri moved to the door, silently escorting Mira out of the house before returning.
Back in the kitchen, Jana had finished the last of the dishes. She turned to her son with a gentle smile. "Baby, are you ready?"
Lin lifted his head, his expression subdued. "Hm… yes, Mom."
Jana walked to the far corner of the kitchen, opening a secret drawer built into the wooden frame. From it, she pulled out a locked box. She opened it carefully, revealing syringes, needles, and vials filled with liquid. Her movements were steady, practiced.
She slipped on gloves, filled the syringe with the clear medicine, then turned toward Lin. Her voice softened. "Baby, give me your hand."
Lin hesitated, but obeyed. He stepped forward, holding out his slender arm. The moment the needle pierced his skin, he flinched, squeezing his eyes shut until it was over.
"There," Jana murmured. She pressed cotton wool against the small wound, then quickly washed her hands, putting the remaining vial and syringe back into the secret drawer.
She carefully collected the used items, hiding them in a small bottom compartment to dispose of later. She didn't want her husband to ever discover them. Taking the package in hand, she headed outside to the backyard, Lin following behind like a quiet shadow.
As she crouched down, digging a shallow hole to bury the used items, Lin's voice broke the silence. "Mom… why am I taking this injection?"
Jana froze. For a second, something flickered across her face fear, dread. But she quickly composed herself, her eyes softening as she forced a smile. "Don't ask, baby. One day, you'll understand." She finished burying the items, dusting her hands before standing.
Lin lowered his head. "Okay, Mom." He hesitated, then asked quietly, "But… Mom, why did you say I should stay away from big brother?"
Jana's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "You think I didn't notice, hm? I know you like your big brother, baby."
Lin's cheeks flamed instantly. He raised his hands to cover his face, embarrassed beyond words.
"There's no need to be shy," Jana said warmly, stepping closer. "I'm your mother. But listen, baby you'll find someone better. Forget about your brother. He's getting married soon."
Her words sliced through him like a knife. Lin's chest ached, his eyes stinging. "Mom… it hurts…" he whispered, his voice breaking.
"Oh, baby… come here." Jana dropped everything and pulled him into her arms, hugging him tightly as he sobbed against her shoulder. She stroked his back gently, rocking him like she did when he was younger. "Who dares to bully my baby, hm? Don't cry… it's okay. You still have me. And there are so many people out there, waiting for you. Once you turn eighteen, you can do whatever you want. If you like boys, you can even have a boyfriend. Okay? Don't cry, baby."
Lin hiccupped, tears rolling down his flushed cheeks. "Yes, Mom…" He wiped at his face with the back of his hand.
"That's my boy." Jana smiled softly and kissed his forehead. "Come here, let me carry you inside."
She crouched down, letting him climb onto her back. Piggybacking him, she carried him back into the house.
"Do you want me to carry you all the way to your room, baby?" she asked as they reached the stairs.
Lin nodded silently, his arms wrapped around her shoulders.
Upstairs, she set him down gently. "Go take a shower, sweetheart. Your face is a mess. Rest well tonight. We'll go to the hospital tomorrow, hm? Goodnight, my love." She kissed his forehead tenderly.
"Goodnight, Mom," Lin whispered, his voice soft as he closed the door. He leaned against it for a moment, letting out a small sigh. Somehow, after crying in his mother's arms, the tightness in his chest felt a little lighter.
Later, after his shower the third one today he put on his favorite bunny pajamas and climbed into bed. Curling under the blanket, he picked up his phone and dialed Rie's number. After a few rings, the line connected.
"Hello…?" Rie's voice was groggy.
"Hey, Rie," Lin said softly, smiling faintly.
"Lin." Rie's tone shifted instantly, filled with concern. "How are you feeling?"
"Oh, I'm fine now," Lin said, tucking the blanket around him. "Oh I forgot to tell you. He's getting married."
There was a pause on the line. "Getting married? What do you mean?" Rie sounded startled, almost angry.
"Yes… that's what I was trying to tell you." Lin exhaled. "But I think I'll be fine now."
"Are you sure? You don't sound okay," Rie pressed.
Lin chuckled faintly. "No, I should be the one asking you that."
"I'm just heading home," Rie muttered.
"This late?"
"Yeah. Me and Dylan fought."
Lin sat up slightly. "Again? Rie, what's wrong with you two?"
"He's a jerk. Just let him go," Rie said, his voice sharp.
"Awnnn, really?" Lin teased gently, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah. My sister just called she's at my house, and she's bringing somebody over. We'll talk tomorrow. Bye, baby. I love you."
Lin's heart skipped. His lips curved into a soft smile. "Bye. I love you too," he said happily, before ending the call and clutching his phone to his chest.
Rei ended the call with Lin and slipped his phone back into his pocket. The quiet night air seemed unusually heavy as he walked up to the front door of his apartment. He punched in his door password, the familiar beeping echoing in the stillness. The lock clicked, and the door slid open with a soft creak.
But the moment he stepped inside, his footsteps halted.
The living room lights were on. The sharp, sterile smell of alcohol and blood immediately filled his nose. On the floor, stretched out across his sofa, lay a man with a deep bullet wound in his side. His white shirt was stained crimson, the blood soaking through the fabric. Beside him, kneeling with hurried hands and a grim expression, was his sister.
She was crouched over the stranger, pressing gauze against the bleeding wound, her hands already slick with blood. Medical tools were scattered across the coffee table scissors, bandages, antiseptic. She worked with a terrifying focus, as though nothing else in the world existed at that moment.
Rei froze at the threshold, his eyes going wide, his breath caught in his throat. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.
"B-Big sis…?" His voice cracked, breaking the tense silence. "What are you… what are you doing? What is the meaning of this?"
He stood there with his mouth hanging open, his whole body rigid. His eyes flicked from his sister's blood-stained hands to the man writhing in pain on the sofa, his face pale, sweat dripping down his temple.
The image burned into Rei's mind. This wasn't just some accident this was violence, danger, something far darker than what he thought his sister's world contained.